Supreme Court upholds Mexico City abortion law

In what is being hailed as a landmark decision for women’s rights, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) upheld a law legalizing abortion in Mexico City through 12 weeks of pregnancy, rejecting a constitutional challenge.

Eight justices voted against the claim, while only three voted in favor. The unexpected but overwhelming majority establishes the Mexico City law as “jurisprudence,” or protected from future judicial challenge. Thus the decision paves the way for other states to use the Mexico City law to modify their penal codes and decriminalize abortion.

Dr. Raffaela Schiavon, director of Ipas Mexico, applauded the verdict, “This is a historic decision for women’s rights, not just in Mexico City, not even just in Mexico, but for women all over Latin America.”